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General discussion

durable player with > 512 - 1GB memory?

Jan 17, 2005 1:31PM PST

I've been using a RipFlash Plus, but it's wearing out (although I'm strapped for cash now so am going to try to make it last as long as possible). I'm looking into getting a better player (and recorder). I want:
at least 1, 2, or 4GB or more of storage
expandable (preferably CompactFlash cards if it uses flash memory, or DVD+/-R/RW/RAM (all formats) (the 5" variety))
recordable (directly to mp3 with extensive controls over it (like the LAME codec for example) or wave)
price - would like to pay no more than $150-250 when I get one but really I have no idea what something like that would cost.
durable - must be able to withstand numerous frequent occurences of this:
http://68.105.108.90:1180/stephen/pics1/canon_s1/MVI_0776.AVI
A while ago I had been thinking about getting a 40GB or larger hard drive player, but destroying a 4GB microdrive promptly halted plans for getting a hard-drive-based unit. I WOULD like to be able to store several gigs at a time - I have like 20 mp3 CDs (many of which have songs encoded at low bitrates to fit them on the CDs) and I'd like to not have to switch discs so often. I usually shuffle my playlist so much that I'm switching out mp3 CDs more often than most people switch out regular audio CDs, and I'd like to reduce the amount of shuffling I have to do.
Any suggestions on what exists now, or will exist in a few months, that will be reasonably priced?

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